The Farm

Sam’s farming in Uganda, January 12-2010

I came to Uganda to manage the start of a dairy farm for the Pentecostal College in Mbale and to train a permanent manager, who will be in charge when I leave. The College is doing this with financial help from Christian Reformed World Missions. Over all head of the college is Rev. Patrick Ouke, who also is in charge of the farm.

We arrived in Mbale on the 28th of October, 2009.
The first few days were spent cleaning our house and adjusting to our new environment. Mostly the house cleaning was to get rid of all the insects, beetles, spiders, geckos, and whatever small critters invade a vacant home. The ants were doing a great job, starting big ant hills in nearly every room.
Since we have little furniture, ( 3’x3’ table, 4 plastic chairs, 1 plastic table, a double bed and some small kitchen appliances) we were soon finished. What was very frustrating is that the power would just be shut off at any hour, water also was not dependable.
The first weekend here we were without power for 24 hrs; not a nice introduction but that’s Africa. We also had no transportation of our own (still don’t) so it also was difficult to shop for lanterns and candles. Thankfully, it is not cold and we cook on butane, a big help.

That first Saturday we had a very nice visit from a security officer of the US Embassy in Kampala. He also brought his wife and his 82 year old father, Lazarus. Joseph used to work for our son, Albert, at the Embassy and was all too happy to visit us. His father, who speaks only 1 word of English, kept reminding Joseph to be sure and tell us that he had only a second grade education. That sure touched Anne’s heart and reminded her of her dad, who had 6 years of schooling. She then noticed the large holes in Lazarus’ socks and asked if she could give him some new ones. Joseph said they’d be much appreciated and that’s when we heard the only English word he knows, a heart felt “Thank you”. Heh, I guess that is two words. :<)

My first visit to the farm was on Nov. 2. It is located roughly 7 miles from the house in a village called Bugama, To say I was impressed would be telling a lie, but we have to make the best of it. I also learned that we will not be receiving milk cows, but heifers, so we have time to get the place ready for milking. I also have to do much learning about what kind of feed is used for cows here in Africa. The farm has about 10 of the 20 acres in what is called elephant grass. I only see it as big reeds and wonder if that is supposed to produce milk. What’s worse, it is way over grown, how does one cut that? I’d been told that I’d find fenced in pasture land but only the perimeter fence was finished. I was impressed by the way that had been done. I’ve since met the man who did all that and have a good working relationship with him. We still have much work to do.

At the farm that first day, there was another muzungu, white person, he was from Michigan and trying to drill for a well. He, Merle, was very frustrated because at feet they kept hitting shale; for which his drills were not strong enough. So far they’d only dug for a latrine, to 20 ft, but the well was not encouraging. The water table is very high at the farm so that hole for the latrine filled up and stayed full. It was then decided that for the time being they’d pump water for the cows from there and put the latrine somewhere else. Hopefully, Merle will return and be able to finish the job.

I also learned that the heifers would not arrive till the middle of the month so I kept myself occupied by helping others, meeting local farmers and pump them for information about feed, etc. People here are very friendly and helpful. They seem very happy to see people our age coming to help them, at least that is what is said; sometimes I think they hope to get $$$ out of us. I tell them they have to work.

The heifers arrived on the evening of Nov. 19, after a long 24 hr trip from Western Uganda; near the Rwanda/Congo border. The distance is not that far, roughly 400 miles, but the roads are not in any condition to allow for what we consider normal speed; and I am told that they are not allowed to travel after dark with a load of cattle.

On the day of arrival, the veterinarian was present as well and oversaw the unloading; also giving 3 or 4 different injections. Some were vaccinations, others preventive shots against shipping fever, etc. The animals are on the small side, two of them quite a ways from being ready for breeding. And, surprise, sadly we discovered 2 pregnant ones as well; to my way of thinking they are still to small but the overall boss was happy.

The feed menu is nothing to write home about so growth progress is quite slow for the animals. Plus we’ve had to deal with what is called East Coast Fever, which is a tick transmitted respiratory disease that is fatal if not treated.

In early Dec. we had more vet work done, s.a. dehorning and pregnancy checking. Strangely, we lost one pregnant heifer 3 days later. I was glad she’d not had any medicine for over one week because she became Christmas dinner for the farm staff and their families; mainly the manager in training and the person who does most all of the work at the site, his wife and children helping as well. Actually, that family currently lives in what will later be the milk house. It works for me and that also is Africa.

Sometime around the middle of December we were able to find some reasonably priced grain and introduced the heifers to a grain ration of about 2 lbs. of mix per cow per day. After about 3- 4 weeks we are able to see some positive results of the feeding program. The health of the animals is now relatively good, we’re praying that it remains that way.

How do I get back and forth to the farm and elsewhere? I mostly travel by boda-boda, that is a motorcycle with driver. For the long trip to the farm, and is an admittedly dangerous road, I have the same driver. I know I can depend on him and he on me.
For trips to town there are many different drivers. Since we live only 11 gates east of the Mbale resort, where boda drivers always hang out to get passengers, it is not difficult to get a ride. The word is out amongst those drivers that I go to the farm and they’ll ask if they can also have a chance to take me.

I am very thankful for Ugandan friends here who have, and still are, introduced me to the way of a farmer here. All of us are learning and enjoying life here in Uganda. More later.